Compare the2024 Porsche CayenneVS 2024 Land Rover Defender

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Porsche Cayenne are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Land Rover Defender doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Porsche Cayenne has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Defender doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Cayenne has a standard Multi-collision Brake System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Defender doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Cayenne offers optional Maneuver Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Defender doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Cayenne helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Defender doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Cayenne and the Defender have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Cayenne’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the Defender’s (12 vs. 6 years).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Cayenne’s reliability 37 points higher than the Defender.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Land Rover is rated below average.

The Cayenne has more powerful engines than the Defender:

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Defender 110/130:

Regenerative brakes improve the Cayenne’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Defender doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Porsche Cayenne as an “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV). The Land Rover Defender is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

The Cayenne’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Defender doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Cayenne CCB’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Defender:

The Cayenne offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Defender doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The Defender doesn’t offer air brakes.

For better traction and acceleration, the Cayenne has larger standard rear tires than the Defender (295/45R20 vs. 255/70R18). The Cayenne’s optional rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the Defender (315/40R21 vs. 285/65R18).

The Cayenne’s standard 255/55R20 front and 295/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 45 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Defender’s standard 70 series tires. The Cayenne’s optional 285/40R22 front and 315/35R22 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Defender’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Defender.

The Cayenne offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Defender doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Land Rover doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Defender.

The Cayenne has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Defender doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the Defender 110/130’s (39.7 feet vs. 42.1 feet).

The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is 3.5 inches shorter than the Defender 110, making the Cayenne easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cayenne is 11 inches shorter in height than the Defender, making the Cayenne much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

For excellent aerodynamics, the Cayenne has standard flush composite headlights. The Defender has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The front grille of the Cayenne uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Defender doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume than the Defender 110 with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

The Cayenne’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Defender’s swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Cayenne’s power cargo door can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Defender doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening cargo door.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Land Rover. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 64% lower rating, Land Rover is ranked 30th.

The Cayenne’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Defender.

The Cayenne’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Defender does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Cayenne to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the Defender.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Cayenne offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Defender doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Cayenne also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Defender doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The Cayenne’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Defender’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Cayenne to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Defender doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Cayenne offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Defender.

The Cayenne’s optional Active Parking Assistance can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote ParkAssist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Defender doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Porsche Cayenne, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Land Rover Defender isn't recommended.